Dedicated to Helping You Realize the Zest of Life * Tri-Lingual Health and Wellness Updates and Tips

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Mandatory Viewing

A friend asked us to disseminate this TAC (Transport Accident Commission, Australia) video to as many people as possible, simply, anybody with the key to a bike, a Kancil, a Proton, a lorry or a Double-Decker bus.

If you are going to smirk about Aussie drinking habits, think again.

There were 6,745 reported road fatalities in Malaysia in 2009, with 60% involving motorcyclists1.

Australia with a population of 22.5 million, compared to ours of 28.9 million, including non-citizens2, suffered a loss of 1,507 during the same year.

Drink- driving is not the only cause of road accidents. We can also blame equipment failure, roadway design and poor roadway maintenance3. Ultimately, the greatest threat to drivers is the drivers themselves4.

1. Distracted Drivers

Mark Edwards, Director of Traffic Safety at the American Automobile Association stated, "The research tells us that somewhere between 25-50 percent of all motor vehicle crashes in this country really have driver distraction as their root cause."

The distractions are many, but according to a study conducted by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), texting -- rubbernecking -- or slowing down to gawk at another accident -- caused the most accidents, accounting for 16 percent of all distraction-related crashes.

"I've had as many as three accidents at one scene, at one intersection," says Officer John Carney of the Fairfax County Police. "Rubbernecking is the most dangerous distraction, in my experience."

After rubbernecking, other common driver distractions included:

Driver fatigue (12 percent, see below)

Looking at scenery (10 percent)

Other passengers or children (9 percent)

Adjusting the radio, cassette or CD player (7 percent)

Reading the newspaper, books, maps or other documents (less than 2 percent)

Another increasingly serious cause of driver distraction is cell phone use, as more than 85 percent of the estimated 100 million cell-phone users talk on their phone regularly while driving, according to a Prevention magazine survey. At least one study has found that driving and talking on a cell phone at the same time quadruples the risk of crashing, which is why many cities have recently begun banning their use while driving unless a hands-free device is used.

2. Driver Fatigue

Drowsy drivers account for about 100,000 accidents every year in the United States, according to the U.S. National Traffic Safety Administration. The risk is greatest from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., the time when most people are used to sleeping, however some people also become drowsy from noon to 2 p.m.

Other than making sure you are well-rested before getting behind the wheel, the Motor Accidents Authority (MAA) offers these tips to help avoid fatigue-related auto accidents:

Take a break from driving at least every two hours.

Get a good night's sleep before a long trip.

Share the driving whenever possible.

Avoid long drives after work.

Avoid drinking before driving.

Pull over and stop when drowsiness, discomfort or loss of concentration occurs.

Find out whether any medicine you are taking may affect your driving.

3. Drunk Driving

In 2004, an estimated 16,654 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, according to NHTSA. This is an average of one death almost every half-hour. Drunk drivers were responsible for 30 percent of all fatal crashes during the week in 2003, but this percentage rose significantly over the weekends, during which 53 percent of fatal crashes were alcohol-related.

The only way to prevent this type of accident is to not drink and drive. Whenever alcohol is involved, choose a designated driver in advance. This person should not drink at all before driving.

4. Speeding

Speeding is a multi-tiered threat because not only does it reduce the amount of time necessary to avoid a crash, it also increases the risk of crashing and makes the crash more severe if it does occur. In fact, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), when speed increases from 40 mph to 60 mph, the energy released in a crash more than doubles. Simply slowing down and obeying posted speed limits can go a long way toward making the roads safer.

5. Aggressive Driving

Exactly what is an aggressive driver? According to the New York State Police, it's anyone who:

"Operates a motor vehicle in a selfish, bold or pushy manner, without regard for the rights or safety of the other users of the streets and highways." This includes behaviors such as:

Aggressive tailgating

Flashing lights at other drivers because you're irritated at them

Aggressive or rude gestures

Deliberately preventing another driver from moving their vehicle

Verbal abuse

Physical assaults

Disregarding traffic signals

Changing lanes frequently or in an unsafe manner

Failure to yield the right of way

If you come across an aggressive driver, the New York State Police gives these tips to protect yourself:

Remain calm

Keep your distance

Do not pass unless you have to

Change lanes once it is safe

If you cannot change lanes and an aggressive driver is behind you, stay where you are, maintain the proper speed and do not respond with hostile gestures

If the situation is serious, you may call 911 to report an aggressive driver

We hope these excerpts on road safety have been useful to you and that you will also do your part to disseminate this information to your friends.

You can also CLICK HERE for downloads from our own Road Safety Department

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